Surprise Long Term/Instant booking - What would you do?

[Don-And-Emily0]

Hi Everybody -

Yesterday we received a surprise long term-instant booking for 4 months.

I say surprise, because our settings have never allowed long term bookings. Our house is in NY state and we are afraid of scammers who could claim renters rights after 30 days.

Also, we have turned our Instant booking off a long time ago after many guests without reviews were booking our place.

At first we thought our account was hacked, but Airbnb found no security breach.

The guest who booked seems legitimate and has 10 excellent reviews, but it is hard to tell if her prior stays on Airbnb were short or long term stays.

Could someone with long term rental experience help answer a few questions?

- should we ask the guests to sign a short term lease along with proof of identity? In our long term rental properties we vet renters through their SSN on a dedicated landlord website. Should we do that in this case, because we don’t feel Airbnb will have our back if something goes wrong

- How do we deal with the lack of a security deposit from Airbnb? 
- the booking is for 2 people, but how do we deal with the extra guests for a long stay? We don’t want to tell the renters not to have any guests for 4 months but we are not comfortable with a constant stream of unvented guests coming through either.

- the cancelation setting was a “1 day prior - no penalty” when this was booked  which is a problem should the guests change their mind the day before. They booked the most popular time in our area which is August to Dec. 

Thank you in advance for your input. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Emiel1]

@Don-And-Emily0 

Long term stays (28 nights and more) have always (!) the "long term stay" cancellation policy attached (overruling what you have set for short stays)

[Colleen253]

@Don-And-Emily0 Since it was Instant Booked (and a platform glitch x2 to boot, which over rode your settings) I would cancel it. Refer to the paragraph on instant bookings, 

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/article/2022/can-a-host-cancel-a-reservation-without-adverse-consequences

These glitches are running rampant these days, worse than ever, it seems. 

[Laura2592]

@Don-And-Emily0 I would cancel without penalty.  Ask ABB to do so. We have had this happen occasionally and mysteriously....our calendar opens when blocked. I think it happens when you aren't generating as much income as the bot thinks you should. 

If you want to entertain this guest try to reach out on social media and do a short term lease off ABB. You have a lot more control over your space, can run the all important credit and background check and set up an actual lease and security deposit.  

[Helen744]

@Don-And- Emily0 all the best . the thing here is really that this is more consistent money and generally less work but cleaning and maintenance must be kept up . Some small changes will be necessary such as supplying linen baskets for personal washing and establishing a weekly clean for linen changes  and bathroom kitchen and vacumning. these cleans are just your normal cleans but spread out a little . after a period of time these will adjust to your personal guests . Usually cleaning is by arrangement with the guets and takes place while they are out and involves a high level of trust so should be done by you not a housekeeping crew. a small fee can be negotiated to be paid either weekly or monthly and can be requested as an extra fee through Airbnb I think although it never used to be. you must explain to the guests that as this is an Airbnb other people are not to visit unless you are told and any overnight sTay will still be charged as an extra person fee. It is also important to communicate any time you will be attending for lawn mowing or maintenance outside or maintenance of any kind but you must not interfere with your guests privacy  . also long term guests will be cooking so maybe some updates to pots and pans but you no longer have to buy certain things like toilet paper or shampoos. These guests need good advice for shopping hospitals doctors clinics pharmacies and where to eat out at reasonable prices .Good luck if you choose this  P. s. initially communicate communicate communicate H

[Helen744]

don and Emily , the contract is for four months . You will be paid for one month the first day after they arrive . This large amount of money in one lump does seem to focus the mind . some people want to rent but are more mobile if the house is already furnished

 It is quite normal and generally these people are [professionals  Find out about the guests . IDs vax certs etcetera.Update your home insurance and make sure it covers Airbnbs as some dont . you will not be covered probably for loss of income but will be covered for damages H 

[Helen744]

Do not do their personal washing but facilitate them to do this  for themselves